Tackling the housing emergency in 撸sir视频 and Bute remains a priority for the council and at today鈥檚 council meeting, councillors agreed to allocate further funding from the Strategic Housing Fund (SHF) to help address the area鈥檚 housing shortage.
Councillors agreed to:
- Approve 拢60,000 from the SHF for delivery of the Housing Need and Demand Assessment 鈥 a statutory obligation of the local authority.
- Delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Policy Lead for Housing, the power to approve discretionary feasibility funding up to a maximum of 拢10,000 per unit to enable Community Trusts to bring potential affordable housing developments to the delivery stage.
- Approve SHF funding up to a maximum of 拢150,000 for West Highland Housing Association to carry out feasibility and design work for footpath improvements between Oban and Ganavan for potential future housing development at the Old Hospital Site at Ganavan. This site was previously allocated for housing in the Local Development Plan.
Councillor Jim Lynch, the council鈥檚 Policy Lead for Economic Development, Islands and Rural Communities, Housing said: 鈥淲e have been working tirelessly with our partners and stakeholders to address the housing emergency in 撸sir视频 and Bute and to identify ways to address the housing shortage. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live in an affordable home and we are committed to making that happen.鈥